Relegation Return? Competition format a talking point at Brier

Numerous blowout games. A 6-2 team missing the playoff cut. No tiebreakers.

The 18-team format at the Brier has had its share of critics even though six strong teams made it to the playoff round at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.

Six-time Brier champion Brad Gushue went one step further after round-robin play concluded by suggesting that relegation — a much-criticized qualification round that was only used for a few years — be considered again.

"I think it would be worth a discussion," Gushue said. "I'm not advocating for it but I think that's the best option that's been shared with me that gets us back to that full round-robin that I used to love playing and I think the fans (loved).

"It gets the best teams there. It's worth talking about."

In the relegation format, which Curling Canada called a "pre-qualifying" stage when it was used from 2015-17, the four lowest-seeded provinces and territories played a round-robin.

The winner would reach the main draw and the three losing teams would go home. Longtime Northwest Territories women's skip Kerry Galusha weighed in on the subject on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"As someone who participated in all three years of relegation it made us work harder and get better, not saying it's the answer but we are going to see lopsided games for years to come until the Northern teams start working harder and travelling more. I knew what we had to do."

Curling Canada moved to a 16-team setup for the Brier and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2018. The defending champion and all provincial and territorial winners were given direct entry along with a wild-card team.

Two pools of eight teams were used in a format that has since expanded to 18 teams with three pre-qualified